Solved: “Mail App Keeps Crashing Mac at Startup”- Try Easy Tips
Have you ever experienced the Mail App keeps crashing Mac at startup? Dealing with this unexpected issue happens due to multiple reasons. Some of these are regular bugs or glitches, file corruption, etc. Additionally, spam emails or malware causes Mac Mail quits unexpectedly on opening error.
Undoubtedly, this issue may lead to the inaccessibility of mailbox data. In this technical tutorial, we will recommend easy and simplified troubleshooting step guidance to fix this error instantly. Besides this, we will discover the common reasons behind the crashing issue in Sonoma, Ventura, and below macOS editions. So, let’s dive into it.
Why Does My Mac Mail Keep Crashing at Launch?
If you regularly experience the Apple Mail keeps crashing on startup or unexpectedly quitting once launched occurs for various reasons. Do these issues happen due to Mac glitches or Mail profile corruption? Here are multiple factors behind raising this issue on Mac Mail.
Let’s look down to know the possible causes related to Apple Mail quitting on opening.
- Working on Outdated Version:- Running the unsupported or outdated version of Mac Mail or Mac OS causes incompatibility issues. These bugs trigger crashing at startup, causing disruption when opening the Mail on Mac.
- Large Attachments:- Many users have questions: do emails take up the storage? Well, email messages consume space, especially the large attachments that occupy storage and bring the issue of synchronization, or the Mail App keeps crashing Mac.
- Poor Connection: An interrupted network connection can cause trouble to any user. The consequences of this problem lead to misconfiguration and issues with mail sync. Ensuring seamless connection plays a crucial role when fixing this problem.
- Corrupted Mail Data:- It is yet another reason for Apple Mail keeps crashing at startup. Hence, the corrupted Mail App preferences data or files are capable of bringing the issue of instability and crashing.
- Faulty Cache Files:- The cache files data unable users to open or connect to the Mac Mail with macOS. In this case, users can’t read or access the data, facing challenges to secure mailbox data.
Overall, these are the most prominent reasons causing Apple Mail keeps crashing on startup or any unexpected quit. The misbehaving of the Mail App leads to complete failure when it comes to opening the Apple Mail on Mac. Now, let’s move to find the impact of these persistent Mac bugs or glitches on any user.
What Happens If Mail App Keeps Crashing Mac Sonoma?
Wondering about the consequences if the Mail App on Mac keeps crashing on Sonoma, Ventura, or the below version? Certainly, it may cause unprecedented challenges to Mac users. Here are the significant impacts:-
- Fear of missing out on important emails is one of the major consequences of this pesky problem.
- Mac users need to spend their time to find the cause and then look for troubleshooting steps to fix the issue.
- Another adverse impact of this problem comes with the risk of data loss. Hence, the recent change may frequently crash on the app.
- The error of Mac Mail quits unexpectedly on opening affects the overall productivity and even slows the performance of the Mail App.
After reading the reasons and consequences of this issue. Now, what to do if the Mail App keeps crashing Mac, don’t worry. In the next section, we will provide a complete guide on troubleshooting steps to manually fix the issue.
7 Easy Ways to Fix Apple Mail Keeps Crashing on Startup Issue
Whether Mac bugs or Mail App glitches, implementing the below approaches helps any Mac users resolve the Apple Mail issue. Here, we will provide the tested and highly recommended tips who frequently receive issues of Mail App keeps crashing Mac Sonoma, Ventura, or below editions:
Read the best go-to tricks to fix the issue manually:-
- Rebuild Your Mac Mailbox
- Force Quit the App
- Disable & Re-Enable Apple Mail
- Delete All Mail Preferences
- Delete Mail Saved State
- Update Apple Mail
- Restart Your macOS
These are the advanced troubleshooting tips to fix Apple Mail keeps crashing error. Additionally, ensure an uninterrupted internet connection as a poor network may cause a barrier in mail sync. Now, let’s understand the above-listed methods in detail.
Method 1: Rebuild Your Mac Mailbox
It is one of the simple and effective ways for those frequently experiencing the issue of Mac Mail unexpectedly quitting at launch. The process of Rebuilding your Mac mailbox enables users to restore their emails with attachments from the server. This method helps to refresh your mailbox and fix the issue of mail crashing. Now, read the steps to rebuild Mac mailbox:-
- Launch your Mail App on Mac.
- From the displayed top menu, tab on Mailbox.
- Now, scroll down to click on Rebuild.
Method 2: Force Quit the App
In the case of Apple Mail keeps crashing on startup, trying the feature of Force Quit helps to resume the functionalities of Mac Mail. Follow the steps to perform this easy tip on your Mac Mail.
- Move to the Apple Logo and tab on Force Quit from the top menu.
- In the pop-up window of Force Quit Application, click on Mail.
- Hit Force Quit to complete the process.
Method 3: Disable & Re-Enable Apple Mail
Often the glitches on the Mail App happen due to configuration errors. Fortunately, there is a quick way to fix the issue via removing and re-configuring the Mail account on Mac. Here are the steps to follow:-
- First, do the Force Quit of Mail App.
- Go to Settings Preferences > Internet Account.
- After this, choose the account from left-side > deselect the Mail.
- Repeat these steps with all Mail accounts.
- Lastly, re-launch the Mail app.
- Now, re-add each account while using the option of Internet Accounts.
- After checking the problematic account, go to the Minus button to delete the account.
- To restart your Mac Mail > go to Internet Accounts and click on the Plus icon to add the account.
Method 4: Delete All Mail Preferences
The Mac Mail app default stores all preferences in a PLIST file format i.e. Property List inside your library folder. Unfortunately, these files get corrupted and lead to the error of Mail App keeps crashing Mac. Here’s the way to delete these files and fix the issue instantly.
- Perform Force Quit.
- From the dock, click on Finder > Go to Folder.
- Enter the below path on the following box
~/Library/Containers/com.apple.mail/Data/Library/Preferences/ - Press the Enter key.
- Switch to Mail Preferences data and dump into Trash folder: com.apple.mail.plist
- Lastly, restart your Mac and then, relaunch the Mac Mail app.
Method 5: Delete Mail Saved State
Mac Mail certainly stores the states of your Mac Mail to make the fast functioning of the app after shutdown. Often these files may be corrupted and cause the crashing error. In this case, removing the state from the Mail app enables users to resume the services. Now, read the steps to perform:-
- First, do the Force Quit.
- Select the Finder icon and then, move to Go to Folder.
- Copy and paste the below path
~/Library/Containers/com.apple.mail/Data/Library/Saved Application State - Now, press the Enter button.
- Go to the saved folder of Mail and move it to Trash:com.apple.mail.savedState
- At last, restart and open Mac Mail to fix the issue.
Method 6: Update Apple Mail
Performing the update of Apple Mail, allowing working on the latest version of the Mail app. It helps to fix the potential bugs related to Mail App keeps crashing Mac. Here are the steps to check for the recent update for the Mail app:-
- To update the app > go to System Preferences.
- Select Software Update (if there is any available update, run it instantly).
Method 7: Restart Your macOS
Another way to fix the issue of “Mac Mail quits unexpectedly on opening” is to reboot your macOS. The advantage of using this feature helps users to stop the running of all third-party applications or cache files. Now, seeking how to reboot your Mac in safe mode, here are the quick steps:-
- Firstly, turn off your macOS machine.
- Press and hold the displayed power button + Shift till it will automatically blink the login screen.
- Lastly, Login in to your Mac Mail.
Also read: why is Apple Mail not working on Mac? Know common reasons.
Mail App Keeps Crashing Mac – FAQs
Q. Why does my Mac Mail keep crashing at launch?
Some of the common reasons behind the issue of Apple Mail keeps crashing on startup are:
- Delay in Software Updation
- Corrupted Mail Preferences
- Bad Internet Connection
- Large Mailbox Size
- Cache Files
Q. How do I fix the Mail App crashing issue on Mac Sonoma?
Here are the top 5 troubleshooting ways to resolve the problem of Mac Mail quits immediately on opening with Sonoma and the below versions:-
- Update Mac Mail/ Mac OS
- Delete All Cache Files
- Rebuild the Mailbox
- Remove Mail Preferences
- Restart Mac Machine
Concluding Words
In summary, the issue of Mail App keeps crashing Mac happens due to Mac bugs or other mail sync errors. The above troubleshooting guide may help any Mac user to fix this issue easily. After implementing these manual tips if still facing trouble accessing your Mac Mail inbox then, reach out to Apple Support for more assistance.